Combination-lock



`SABIN coLroN, or PHILADELPHIm PENNSYLVANIA.

ooIvIBINATIoN-Locx.`

Specification of` Letters PatentNo. 3,395, dated. anuiary` 6, 1844.

. To all wit-0m t mag/concern.'

Be it known that I, SABIN CoL'roN, of the city of Philadelphia, in theiStatefof Penn:

sylvania, have invented` a new and Improved Mode of Constructing Combination-Locks for Doors `aIIdVfor other` Purposes; `and l do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description` thereof.` i

Figure l, in the accompanyingdrawing represents the interior of the lock; the `box orcase being removed for the purpose of showing the parts ordinarily concealed byit.

, A, A, is the bolt which is to bemoved backward andforward by means of the knobbed handle B, and the bit C. j Onthe opposite side ofthe lock plate and in the rear `of the bolt, there `is a box D, which should project from the lock plate to la distance equal to thethickness of the door, in which there is to be-a mortise to receive it. The box D containsa rectangular slide` D shown in section in Fig. 2, `which is capable of being forced out so as to occupy the space between the back end of the bolt, and the projecting piece E, making apart of the lock plate. Then said slide is entirely `within the box D, the bolt may be moved back, but when the boltis shot forward, and

the slide is forced outV ofthe box, against' the rear end of the bolt, `it will be firmly heldin that situation. The pieces marked a, l), c, are three circular buttons, aiiixed by screws tothe ends of three cylindrical shafts, contained within the slide, and which may be turned separately by a key constructed for that purpose. TheV buttons a, b, c, are notperfect circles, a piece being cut off from the edge of each of them, as represented, so that when -made to project with the slide, and turned by the key, their circular edges will lap over, and button upon, the

projecting' piece E. 1When `they are thus buttoned the slide will be so held that it cannot pass back into the box D, until each of the buttons is brought into a position by which it is released from its bearing upon the piece E. VVhenthis has been done the slide will be drawn back into the box by the action of a spiral spring, and the bolt may be then turnedback.

Fig. 2, is a section through the slide contained within the box D. Three or more holes, d, e, f are drilled through the slide to admit the shafts g, g, g, which are to be turned by the key and which carry the buttons a b, c; there are check pins at 71., it, h,

which are received within a groove on the shafts,` and allow them to turn around without slipping endwise.

which heads are received within recesses in the slide, and upon thesevthe but-tons a, o, c, are screwed. The key, Fig. 3, is employed to turn the shafts g, 9,17, and the buttons a, b, c, upon them for which purpose it `is to be passed into the holes d, e, f. These holes are shown on the key hole plate F Fig. 4 which covers the box D, and the slide within it. At if, z', `there is a spiral spring which bears by one end upon the lock plate G, and at the `other presses against a pin projecting out'from the slide, which it consequentlyV forces toward the plate E, removingit from behind the bolt when the buttons a, b, c, are relieved from their bearing on plate H, there are made any desired number of divisions as at lo, l, m, n; these "are to be marked by letters oriigures which are to serve as guides in setting the buttons a, 5, c, and in opening the lock. If it is thought proper to increase the number of shafts and buttons the combination will thereby be rendered more complex.

Operation: Then it is desired to set the lock to any determined combination of letters ,or lgures, the box or case, which covers the bolt, the end` of the slide, &c., is removed as in Fig. l; the screws which tighten the buttons a, b, c, on the ends of the shafts g, g, are loosened, and the key is then applied to the shafts in succession, the division of the plate H of the key, which may have been determined or is brought to coincide with the line r, 1", on the key hole plate F, and the screws are then tightened upon the buttons, the flattened sides of which lie, during this operation, against the inner side of the projecting piece E. The box, or case of the lock is then screwed on, and it is ready` for use. To lock it the bolt is to be shot forward bythe action of the bit C;

I also form heads fa, n, n, upon the innerendsof the shafts enr the key is then passed into one of the holes d, e, f and the slide pressed forward so as to overcome the action of the Spiral spring` z', 2'; then o-n turning the key, the button will catch upon the top of the piece E; the other shafts are then, in like manner, to be turned and buttoned on the piece E. Until each of the buttons is brought to the proper position, in accordance With the combination, the bolt cannot be forced back, Whatever Violence may be used.

Having thus fully described the construction of my combination lock, and the manner in which the saine operates, What I claim as my invention therein, is-

The manner in which I have combined the slide contained in the boX D, and the shaft-s therein carrying' the buttons on their ends Which are made to catch on the piece E, when acted upon by the key; said apparatus operating' as a Whole, substantially as herein set forth.

SABIN COLTON. Witnesses :V JAMES YOUNG,

EDWARD BROWN. 

